Runner attachment for automobiles



Dec. 15', 1925.

F'. GEAUDREAU RUNNER ATTACHMENT FOR AUTOMOBILES Filed March i7, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 F. GEAUDREAU Dec. 15, l925 RUNNER ATTACHMENT FCR AUTOMOBILES Filed March 1'7I 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 E? Fi 'eadrewu Y@ Memup Patented Dec. 15, 1925.

UNITED STATES `PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK GEAUDREAU, `OF NEWPORT, WASHINGTON, ASSIGNOR TO GEAUDREAU AND THOMPSON, A FIRM OR PARTNERSHIP COMPOSED OF FRANK GEAUDREAU AND CHARLES CARROL THOMPSON, OF NEWPORT, WASHINGTON.

RUNNER ATTACHMENT FOR AUTOMOBILES.

Application filed March 17, 1924. Serial No. 699,931.

To all whom t 'may concern.'

Be it known that I, FRANK kGrnAUDnuAU, a citizen ot the United States, residing at Newport, in the county of Pend 4Oreille and lState of Washington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Runner Attachments for Automobiles; and I do declare the following tobe a full, clear, andexact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and ,use the same.

My invention relates to runners adapted for connection with automobiles :tor Yuse whenever advisable, and the principal object is to provide uniqueattaching means for the runners, consistingof rims applicable to the fellies of the automobile wheels, in place of ther usual demountable rims and tires. Thus, it is an extremely easy matter toequip an automobile with the runners, or to remove them, when the tires can again beadvantageously used.

A further object is to` provide a construction in which the rims applied to the rear wheels of anautomobile, act as drivers for propelling the machine.

Yet another aimis to provide a simple and inexpensive, yet an etlicient and durable runner construction.

With the foregoing in view, the invention resides in the novel subject matter yhereinafter described and claimed, the description being supplemented by the accompanying drawings.

Figure l is an outer side elevation ofa runner. attachment constructed in accordance with my invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan view with the tread belt removed.

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view substantially on line 3 3 of Fig. l, the wheel-engaging rim and the tread belt being omitted.

Figure 4 is detail transverse section as indicated by line 4--4 of Fig. l.

Figure 5 is a longitudinal sectional View on line .55 of Fig. 2.

Figure 6 is a vertical transverse section as'indicated by line 6--6 of Fig. 5.

Figure 7 is a-detail sectional view on the plane of line 7-7 of Fig. 5.

Figure 8 is a plan view partly in section,

showing one form of tread chain which may be used. n

Figure 9 is a detail sectional view on line 9-9 of Fig. S.

Figure l0 is a fragmentary side elevation illustrating a different form of treadv chain.

Figure ll is a plan view of a portion of the tread chain shown in Fig. l0.

In the accompanying drawings, I have illustrated one form of they invention and in the following, this form has been specifically described, but it is to be understood at the outset that the invention is not restricted to the specific showing and description, except as restricted by the appended claims. Y l

rlhe numeral l designates a ruimer, in a general way, saidfrunner being preferably y of channel form with parallel side flanges 2 rising from a bottom 3, the ends of this bottom being turned upwardly, inwardly and downwardly and secured between the ianges 2, to provide rounded noses 4. An endless `tread belt, preferably in the form of a chain 5. extends along the lower side of the bottom 3., passes around the noses 4i, extends under appropriate tightening rollers (i, and passes over anannular rim 7 whichis adapted to be applied to the telly of an automobile wheel in place of the usual demountable rim and tire.

The rollers 6 may be mounted in any desired manner, but I have shown them upon shafts 8 passing through slots 9 in the fianges 2 and through other slots l0 formed in spring andl bearingihousings ll secured to said flanges. Titliin these housings, bearings l2 have been shown for the shafts 8, and adjustable springs 13 have been illustrated to normally exert any desired downward force on the bearings, thus constantly depressing the rollers 6 to take up all slack in the chain 5.

. he rim 7 is adapted to be held upon the` lfelly 1st of an automobile wheel 15, by the usual means 1G, employed for securing an ordinary demountable rim upon said telly, and said rim 7 is preferably provided with laterally extending annular flanges 17 which rest on rollers 18 mounted between the flanges 2 of the runner 1. Between these rollers, the ianges 2 are preferably notched as indicated at 19 to facilitate attachment and removal of the device, and these notches are normally closed by side plates 2O and 21 which may be held in place by any suitable means, such as the cap-screws 22. rl`he plates 20 and 21 carry flanged rollers 23 which engage the inner peripheries ot' the flanges 17, as well as the outer edges oi these itlanges, so that the rim 7 is rotatably connected in an advantageous manner with the ruimer 1, and is held in fixed relation with respect to said runner. The outermost plate 2() by preference carries a wheel guard 2l which may well have an inwardly extending tender portion 25 to extend over the rim 17 and a portion of the chain 5, passing over said rim.

By providing the construction shown and described, or a substantial equivalent thereoit', it will be seen that the runner attachment may be quickly and easily applied to or removed from an automobile wheel, and that no changes whatever are necessary in the common automobile construction.

The chain 5 may be of any desired form but in all instances, the bottom 3 ot the runner 1 is preferably provided with 'downwardly extending flanges 26 between which said chain runs. In Figs. 7, Sand 9, one form of chain has been shown, said chain comprising parallel links 27 having overlapped ends through which bolts 28 pass, inner and outer rollers 29 and 30 being mounted on the bolts between the ends of the links, so as to anti-'frictionally engage sprocket teeth 31 on the rim 7. Preferably, the links 27 are provided with threaded bosses 32 (Fig. 7) upon which ball-retainers 33 are threaded, said retainers being provided with ball-bearings 34 which are adapted to engage the runner bottom 3, in an antirictional manner. lVhenever any ot the balls 3a become damaged, the retainers 33 may be removed and new retainers, equipped with other balls, substituted.

The 'form of chain above described is preferably used on light passenger machines. For trucks, I prefer to use a chain oi the construction shown in Figs. 1() and 11, in which the spaced pivotally connected links 35 are connected by bolts 36 upon which bearing rollers 37 are disposed, these rollers being positioned to engage the runner bottom 3. The links at opposite sides ot the chain i: ay well be connected at intervals by transverse webs :39, to cause the chain to etectively grip snow and ice and produce good traction.

Obviously, the idea of connecting runners with automobile wheels by means of a rim to take the place of the usual demountable rim and tire, may be used in connection with both front and rear wheels, it' desired, and it is of course not essential that the rims for the front runners, be rotatably connected therewith. Rotatable connections of the rear rims with their respective runners, however, are essential, in order that said rims may act as drivers for the machine. Preferably, these rims drive an endless tread belt, as shown, but it is obvious that other provision might well be made whereby the rotation of the rims can be utilized to produce a propelling torce.

l claim:

1. An attachment for an automobile wheel comprising a frame having a runner and an annular rim adapted to lit upon the telly o't' an automobile wheel after the tire-carrying rim has been removed and in place ot' the same, said frame being open adjacent one side ot' said rim to permit the attachment to be applied to the wheel while the latter is upon an automobile.

2. An attachment for an automobile, comprising a runner, and an annular rim forming the sole carrying means for said runner, said runner being applicable to the telly ot' an automobile wheel in place of the usual tire-carrying demountable rim.

An attachment for an automobile, comprising a runner, and an annular rim carrying said runner and having a rotatable connection with the latter, said rim being applicable to the telly of an automobile wheel in place of the usual tire-carrying demountable rim and constituting the sole carrying means for the runner, said rim acting as a driver.

4. An attachment for an automobile, comprising a runner, a laterally ianged rim applicable to an automobile wheel elly in place of the usual demountable rim, said rim heilig' 'disposed over said runner, and rollers mounted on said runner and co-operating with the lateral flanges of said rim to rotatably mount the latter and hold said rim and runner in iixed relation.

5. An attachment for an automobile, comprising a runner having upstanding longitudinal side flanges, laterally spaced rollers mounted between said iianges, a rim rotatably engaging said rollers and adapted vtor application to an automobile wheel elly in place of the usual demountable rim, and a tread belt trained around said ruimer and engaged with said rim to be driven by the latter.

G. A structure as specified in claim 5; said side fianges being notched to clear the automobile wheel when applying and removing llt) the attachment, detachable plates for closing the notches of said flanges, and additional rim-engaging rollers carried by said plates.

7. A structure as specified in claim 6; said side flanges being notched to clear the automobile Wheel when applying and removing the attachment, detachable plates for closing the notches of said flanges, and a Wheel guard carried by the outermost of said 10 plates.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature.

FRANK GEAUDREAU. 

